Rail.



UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST SOHLEGEL, OF COLOGNE, GERMANY.

RAIL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 712,337, dated October 28, 1902.

Application filed February 13, 1902. Serial No. 93,906. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST SCHLEGEL, subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Cologne-on-the-Rhine, Prussia, Germany, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Railroad-Rails, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rails for railways of any of the various kinds.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved rail having the least possible weight consistent with the strength necessary to resist the various strains put upon it in practical use. v

With this object in View myinvention consists in an improved rail, the construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts of which will be hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved rail on a plane cutting transversely through the rail at the apex of the inverted triangular opening of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of parts of a rail constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on avertical plane cutting transversely through the rail at the apex of the upright triangular opening. Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section showing a shape of flange which may be used with my construction.

In the drawings, a indicates the tread of the rail, which is preferably made of a greater vertical thickness on one side, as at b, and with a greater lateral projection on the other side, as at c.

e indicates the web of the rail, which is formed with alternating triangular openings d and d", the openings cl having the apex of the triangle inverted or downward and the openings d having the apex of the triangle upward, whereby is left of the web alternating portions between the adjacent triangular openings inclined in opposite directions.

f indicates the flange of the rail, which may be of a regular equal width throughout or may be very wide, as at g in Fig. 1, at certain points in the length of the rail and cut away at points alternating with such wide portions, as at Min Fig. 3, forming narrow base widths, as at k in said Fig. 3.

right to left.

If desired, the rails may be of a uniform width, hollowed out, as at h in Fig. 4.

I am aware that railway-rails have been lightened by cutting away portions of or forming openings through the Web; but I do not broadly claim such a construction. I

By reason of the peculiar form and arrangement of the openings in my improved rail a large part of the web may be cut away without materially affecting the strength of the are inclined downward to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, offer special resistance to the downward and forward thrust or strain brought upon the rail by a train moving over it from Likewise the other alternating port-ions of the web which are inclined downwardly to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, offer the same resistance to a forward and vertical thrust brought upon the rail by a train moving over it from left to right.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A railway-rail comprising a head, web and tread, the web having triangular openings therethrough alternating with each other, one series of such openings having the apices of the triangles inverted or downward and the alternating series having the ap'ices of the triangles upright, whereby the adjacent portions of the web between the triangular openings are oppositely inclined, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

' ERNST SOHLEGEL. Witnesses:

LoUIs GEORG LEFFER, JAooB PLANTZ. 

